These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Beloved: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. (2 Tim 2:8-9)
Children of immigrants separated from their parents and placed in cages has touched the Heart of Christ. But it continues to happen with a vengeance. When will we make the connection between the unfettered Word of God and the cages we put one another in? As Jesus said, there’s not two separate commandments, love God, love neighbor, because the second is the same as the first. Or as the Letter of John puts it:
Whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 Jn 4:20)
For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God. (2 Tim 1:6-7)
The Pastoral Epistles, 1&2 Timothy and Titus, are written in Paul’s name. They contain some beautiful passages about ministry and about preaching the gospel in difficult times: “Bear your share of hardship for the Gospel.” St Charles and his companions were martyred at the end of the 19th century in Uganda. At a time when racism seems to be triumphant, we need to take courage from the words given to Saint Paul:
“I am not ashamed, for I know him in whom I have believed and am confident that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.” (2 Tim 1:12)
Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him. (Mk 12:13-17)
Every dictator in the world knows this passage by heart: “Give to Cesar what belongs to Cesar, and to God what belongs to God.” Two worlds, civil and religious, the State and God. Well, that’s NOT what Jesus said. Because when you ask yourself, “What doesn’t belong to God?” you begin to understand the point Jesus is making: Everything belongs to God. He turns the trick question back on those who want to trap him. Besides a Roman denarius was blasphemous—it had the graven image of the “Divine Cesar.” The only way to get one was to play ball with the Romans. His questioners had already sold out.
After Jesus had been taken up to heaven, the Apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14)
We still gather together in prayer with Peter and the others along with Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
And when he had said this, Jesus breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (Jn 20:22-23)
Pentecost has been called the birthday of the church—in one sense it is, but Pentecost is so much more. The Gift of the Holy Spirit, the very life-breath of the Risen Lord, is a FIRE that transforms a tiny group of frightened disciples into apostles (those who are sent).
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
